Feature National Park – Lesueur National Park
Lesueur National Park is just a short 15-minute drive northeast of Jurien Bay and three hours drive north of Perth. It is one of the most significant reserves for flora conservation in Western Australia. It is a must-see for all wildflower lovers and botanists with over 900 species of flora identified within the park – (10 per cent of WA’s known flora – including acacias, hibbertias, leschenaultias, melaleucas, gastrolobiums).
Lesueur National Park (Photo: Australia’s Coral Coast)
There are many different orchids, such as pink enamel, purple enamel, cowslip, blue lady, white spider and donkey orchids). In spring several varieties of kangaroo paw are predominant. Visit now, during the wildflower season for a spectacular sight when a profusion of colour covers much of the National Park. Drive to the top of Mount Lesueur for a magnificent panoramic view across the park and the pretty coastline of Green Head.
Lesueur National Park covers 26,987 hectares and is recognised for its outstanding conservation, landscape and recreational importance. The National Park is also home to over 100 species of birds that rely on the flora for their survival.
Lesueur National Park has a selection of walk trails in the park, varying in length from the 400-metre (return) Botanical Path to the four-kilometre (return) climb up Mount Lesueur. The Lesueur Scenic Drive trail is a great way to see the diverse wildflowers of the park.  It traverses one of the most scenic parts of the park and takes you past Mount Lesueur and Cockleshell Gully. Regular pull-outs provide opportunities to park and enjoy the scenery or take photos.
Landforms in the park vary from salt lakes and remnant coastal dunes in the northwest through to laterite ridges in the east. The flat-topped laterite mesas of Mount Lesueur and Mount Michaud are features of the park.
Birds and reptiles are abundant in the park. Carnaby’s cockatoo is among the 122 species of native bird found in the park. There are 52 reptile species. The park is particularly rich is geckoes and legless lizards. As with plants and birds, many of the reptiles in the park found here are at the southern or northern limits of their range.
Lesueur National Park is 250 kilometres north of Perth along the Brand Highway. Entry is from Cockleshell Gully Road, which, although unsealed, generally has a good surface, and is usually suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles. Care must be taken after the rain.
(Article sources: Australia’s Coral Coast, TrailsWA, Parks & Wildlife)
